Sushi Sets
I've been trying out new sizes, glazes and designs for my sushi/tapas trays. Here's my favorite for horse lovers. All of my newer platters and trays are impressed with lace on the underside. I really like how the glazes break over them. This is Mayco's turtle shell glaze. So hard to photograph because it is so glossy.

You can purchase the set on my website here: http://www.islandgirlpottery.com/collections/serving-platters-plates-trays/products/horse-serving-tray-with-bowls-sushi-tray-tapas-tray

Vaya Con Dios...

I haven't done any blogging since Dad passed away. I'm ready to get back at it even though I'm not the greatest writer. In the meantime, here's one of my favorite pics of Dad saying hello during my morning coffee. Vaya con dios, Pops!

DAMN!

I was so productive yesterday makings lots platters and trays. I woke up this morning and saw this on most of them...

This has never happened to me before. I think it is because the clay I used was much wetter than usual and it shrunk up to fast. Oh well, lesson learned I guess. Onward...

Oh shino, I love you.

I've been MIA due to my father's passing. Blog post to come regarding Dad and a new direction in my work inspired by him.

Soooo. I've been experimenting with different clays and glazes. Here's my latest owl vase done in stoneware clay (BMix5) and Coyote's shino. The photos doesn't do this one justice. I am starting to think shino is bulletproof. Do any of you all use it? thoughts??

Cheers, Jac

Coyote and Amaco Potters Choice Glaze Tests

I have been working with earthenware clay and am adding stoneware and much later porcelaine to the mix. I will be testing for the next few months and post the results here. I am starting off with commercial glazes for now. I made some test tiles and just went for it on some drop plates and bowls. I fired to cone 6 in a manual kiln. Click on any of the pics to see close up.

I love how these four colors came out. All are from Coyote. Peacock Celedon, Shino, Sunrise Shino and Key Lime Celedon. Gorgeous. I think all of these highlight my textures nicely.

Potter's Choice Chun Plum. LOVE it! Raspberry and purple with orange undertones. Yes I love you, yes I do.

Drop plate in sunrise shino. Prettier than the pic shows.

Potter's choice blue rutile on a bowl.

Coyote light blue shino. Nice color but doesn't do a thing for my texture/relief.  Maybe for a plain plate or bowl. Meh.

Clockwise, Potter's Choice Light Sepia, Potter's Choice Firebrick Red with Light Sepia over on right.  Coyote Mocha Shino and Coyote Leopard Shino. That's it for now! Feel free to post your favorites in the comments!!! I'll be adding more soon.

Hand Built Owl and Moon Handbuilt Vase Finished!

Here it is, I LOVE it! The outside is glazed in red and the inside is glazed in a glossy black. See the previous post for the how to.

The custom owl vase and a back up.

Front view if the owl vase

Side view full of moons.

Back view.

Large Hand Built Owl and Moon Vase

I had an order for a large (14 inches tall) custom order vase and I thought it would be fun to document the process. I am always learning so feel free to leave comments and suggestions!

Here is the finished vase before sanding and final tweaks. I freakin' LOVE it!

I use a pvc pipe to wrap the clay around. I put paper over it or else the clay sticks.

All stamps are in. Sprigs will go on after the slab is on the form. If the sprigs go on now they may get squashed if I drop or handle the slab too rough. I found out the hard way. My 1st attempt yielded a squished owl.

Oh stamps how I love you so! I make the majority of my stamps.

The slab is on the pipe (side view). I slip and scored the edges 1st.

Owl and moon sprigs are added. I slip and score them on. I am a sucker for texture so I stamp stars into the owl scene using my husbands screwdriver heads below.

Love these!

I add buttons to the back

I let it set up for an hour or so, then I place the cylinder on a slab of clay, cut out a circle bigger than the base and fold it over the top of the bottom. I reinforce the inside with coils of clay along the seams. This is going to be glazed in red. Like this one...
http://www.etsy.com/listing/64535155/ruby-red-owl-moon-and-stars-vase-utensil